The inescapable error, JSM was a lousy candidate from day 1.
The man who sponsored McCain-Feingold was beaten bloody by an opposing candidate with unlimited funds.
The man who sponsored McCain-Kennedy eventually got the support of conservatives he infuriated, but lost the support of the Hispanics he was pandering to.
The man who formed the Gang of 14, so as to retain the right of minority Democrats to filibuster, will be among the minority that is denied the right of filibuster by majority Democrats.
It was not until McCain had locked up the nomination that he received a majority of Republican votes in any primary.
McCain was always an inferior candidate. Even the selection of Palin did not change that basic fact. The election was lost the moment McCain was nominated.